Volume One, Chapter 10: Strike First to Gain the Advantage

The shopkeepers were indeed quick and efficient. After the Star-Picking Tower council meeting, Su Ming immediately urged them to begin their relocation work and even assigned two assistants to each shopkeeper. Ostensibly, it was to help them, but everyone knew Su Ming’s true intention was to keep a close watch on them, ensuring they didn’t dawdle. The shopkeepers, with their wealth and leisure, could afford to drag things out for half a year, but Su Ming only had three months. If the task could not be completed, the consequences would be far worse than death itself—like cutting off one’s own arms.

Within just seven days, all the shops had completed their decoration and relocation. Seeing the daily revenue rise significantly, the shopkeepers beamed with smiles that would not fade and no longer quibbled over the one-tenth share of dividends. As for Tan, the shopkeeper of the Star-Picking Tower, after their last encounter, he had developed a rapport with Su Ming, allowing him to live there permanently without charging any fees. Su Ming reciprocated the favor by allocating him a prime spot on Bloom Street.

At this moment inside the Star-Picking Tower, Su Ming was tallying the numbers, estimating how much silver he could earn each month when Liu Lecheng rushed in hastily. “Boss, things aren’t looking good,” Liu said anxiously.

“What’s wrong?” Su Ming frowned.

“My men have news. Shopkeeper Chen from the gambling den might be making a major move soon,” Liu said, worry etched deeply on his face.

“Move? I was afraid he would just give up after what I did to his tongue. If that were the case, I wouldn’t even get a chance to act. Tell me more,” Su Ming replied, taking a delicate sip of his fragrant tea.

“Since the relocation began, Chen’s progress has been the slowest. All the other shopkeepers have finished, but he’s still dragging his feet. My men spotted him secretly gathering over a hundred people at the gambling den. He might be planning to strike us,” Liu reported cautiously, knowing the decision was not his to make.

“Tsk tsk, this is interesting.”

“No wonder he’s a gambling den boss—always making grand gestures. This many people... Su Ming is truly moved,” Su Ming said with narrowed eyes, a fierce gleam flashing within them.

“Boss, what should we do? Should we call the brothers together and prepare in advance?” Liu frowned, concern clear on his face.

Though great masters could move mountains, fill seas, and ascend to immortality, those were matters for the powerful elites. For people like Su Ming and his men who scraped by at the bottom, aside from Su Ming himself who had reached the warrior realm, most relied on close combat. As the saying goes, a lone tiger cannot stand against a pack of wolves. No matter how skilled his few dozen brothers were, they were no match.

If Chen launched a surprise attack, the newly stabilized Bloom Street would be thrown into chaos. Once disorder broke out in their territory and the gang’s interests suffered, the higher-ups of the River and Sea Gang would certainly investigate. Then Su Ming would bear the blame and no one could save him.

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“Prepare? Prepare for what?” Su Ming snorted coldly and asked in return.

“Uh… to resist Chen’s counterattack. After all, boss, you cut out his tongue last time…” Liu was somewhat confused.

“And then?” Su Ming’s eyes narrowed, pressing for more.

“And then…” Liu was startled by the sudden interrogation, momentarily fearful.

“If you knew someone was coming to kill you, what would you do?” Su Ming said calmly.

Liu, a seasoned veteran, immediately showed a ruthless expression. “Strike first to avoid suffering later—kill the bastard!”

“That’s right. Come with me to the gambling den,” Su Ming nodded in satisfaction, rising and heading toward the door. “Let’s send them on their way.”

The Long Sky region was raining again, dark clouds wrapping the sky like a thick quilt. The fine drizzle fell upon the earth, making it hard to breathe.

At the far west end of Bloom Street lay Chen’s gambling den. Seven days had passed, and all the other shopkeepers had finished their moves, but Chen’s place still lagged, unable to get started.

Moreover, Chen had lost his tongue and had to deal with people constantly. Other shopkeepers took the chance to set up shops nearby, stealing business.

Gradually, Chen’s gambling den became increasingly difficult to run. No one wanted to gamble while watching a mute man stammering, dampening the mood.

Now, outside the gambling den, the silence was eerie. Aside from a few sparrows, no one could be seen. Passersby, having heard of the feud between Chen and Su Ming, deliberately avoided the area for fear of getting caught up innocently.

After all, Bloom Street had more than one gambling den now; there were plenty of places to play elsewhere.

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In the gambling den’s back courtyard, a short, stout middle-aged man was gesturing fiercely, his face full of anger and frustration. His mouth opened wide, trying to say something, but only muffled sounds emerged.

A group of burly men, their faces covered with black scarves, stood in the rain, watching the man on the stage with puzzled expressions.

“Our boss means that since you and the River and Sea Gang are two of the Seven Great Gangs, you should know the consequences of this operation. If you do it, make it quick and clean—don’t give anyone a handle to catch,” the man wearing a melon hat next to Chen acted as translator.

“Otherwise, the final payment won’t be completed.”

After he finished speaking, Chen nodded in satisfaction and began gesturing again.

Seeing this, the men looked back at the translator, who awkwardly scratched his head and pulled out paper and pen, handing it to Chen. “Boss, if there’s anything else you want to say, better write it down.”

Chen glared angrily but eventually took the pen obediently. Soon, the translator continued,

“The rest don’t matter. If you can catch Su Ming alive, you must catch him alive. Our boss wants to dealI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.